Banjo



April 26,1927. 1,625,811 W. L. LANGE BANJO .Filed Nov. 11. 1922 PatentedApr. 2S, 1927.

UNITED S'liTlS` PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM L. LANGE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

BANJO.

Application filed November 11, 1922. Serial 1\1'o.f600,379.v

This invention relates to banjos and similar musical instruments, themain object oit which is to provide a device oi this kind which willgive a, loud, clear tone ot excellent quality.

Another object ot the invention to provide a. inr'struiueiit having`ii'ieaiis, adjustable at the will ot the player, tor modi ing the toneas desired, sl'iarpening its quality thereby to give an increasedcarrying quality or increasing the sonority to 'full tone quality,thereby qualifying the instrument to meet the requirements ot large orsmall auditoriums, the character of the music played, and to lill itspart in orchestral work.

Another object otl the invention is to provide a. device of this kindhaving an improved means for tensioning the diaphragm.

Other objects of the invention are to improve generally the simplicityand etliciency ot' such devices` and to provide a device or apparatus ofthis kind which is durable, economical to manufacture, and which willnot get out ot order.

The inventive features Yfor the accomplislr ment of these and otherobjects are shown in connection with an improved musical instrumentwhich, brietiy stated, comprises a frame having upper and lower spacedrims and a transverse member secured. across the center thereof'. ,Asound reflector having a base portion mounted on the lower rim has anupturned outer tiange for reflecting sound issuing between said rims.Between said vbase portion and upper rim hooks are provided fortensioning a diaphragm which is mounted over a tensioning ring supportedby said upper rim. Downwardly disposed springs mounted on the inner partot the frame have their lower ends contacting with a disleshaped backplate movable up and down in said lower rim against said springs andadjusted by a screw stud having engagement with said bach plate andtransverse member.

@ther objects ot the invention will appear as the description proceeds;and while here in details o't' the invention are described, theinvention is not limited to these, since many and various changes may bemade without departing from the scope oi' the invention as claimed.

ln the accompanying drawing, showing by way ot example two of manypossible embodiments ot the invention, n

F l is a plan of the instrument;

Fig. 2 is a bottom view ot the instrument showing one -t'orin oi theinvention;

Fig. 5:3 is a sectional view oi the :torin oit Fig.' 2, taken on theline BAS ot Fig. l, .looking in the direction ot the arrow of said line;and

Fig. it a similar sectional view, part-ly in elevation, ot another formot the invention.

fis shown in Figs. l to 3, one 'form of my invention cinnprises a framehaving ank upper rim ll and ak lower rim l2 spaced apart to 'tornitherebetween a sound outlet opening 13. A neck lf-l (Fig. 2) is .securedtosaid rims il and l2 and has a dowel eX- tcnsion lo extendingtransversely across the frame above the level of the lower rim 12 andhaving a central vertical bore 18, Fig. 3. An aniiulai."resonatorreflector, generally denoted by '20, has a vertical outer flange 2lcut-away, as at 2Q, Fig. 2, to receive the neclr lll and a substantiallyhorizontal base portion 25 provided between its peripl'ieral portioiiswith hook-receiving openings QG and havingits inner peripheral portionresting on top of the lower rim 12. Studs or uprights 27 `passingthrough said base portion 25 and mounted in and connecting said rims lland l2, receive thereon nuts 28 engaging said upperrim ll and baseportion 25 to hold the parts locked. Thestuds 27' and nuts 2S divide theopening 13 into a plurality of ii'itern'iediate lateral sound outlets.

Vertical rods or supports 30 in the top ot the upper rim ll. 'support atone ring 32, holding the ring slightly spaced above the upper rim ll. Adiaphragm or vellum 33, tensioned over said tone ring 32, is drawn downat the edges and terminates with a lesh hoop 34, and a tension `ring 3Gis mounted on said flesh hoop 34 and provided with an upper groove 38into which the hooked upper ends ottensioning rods i0 engage, the lowerends of said rods t0 being threaded and passing through saidhookreceiving openings 26 ot said base portion 25k with nuts 42 on saidends for tensioning the diaphragm 33.

Downwardly and inwardly disposed springs 44 are mounted on the innerpart of the uppe rim ll, their free ends in Contact with a disk-shapeddownwardly convened upwardly -eoneaved tone moditier, sound damper orregulator 45 having a thickened peri Jheral elge, as 46, to engage theinner tace ot' the lower rim l2, whereby the pla-te may.' be adjustablypressed inwardly against the springs 44 or outwardly by said springs.

A bos plate 48 having a central threaded opening 49, eoaial with saidbore 18, is suitably secured on the lower aee of said extension l5. anda threaded adjusting stud 50, having lrnurlefl head 54, passes throughthe Central perforation 51 ot tone modifier 45 and into said bore 18 andthreaded openings 49, whereby as the stud 50 is screwed home the tonemodifier 45 may be adjusted to the upper edge ot the lower riin l2 forproviding a sharp, iiar-oarrying tone, while as the adjusting stud 50 iswithdrawn, the tone modiher 45 edge ot the lower rim by means ot' the siings and thus provide full sonorous tone, intermediate positions oit thetone modiier providing ii'itermediate tones.

ln Fig. 4 there is shown another form ot sound-board adjusting means, inwhich the upper rim ll is provided with inwardly projecting lugs GOhaving downwardlyv opening recesses 6l therein, while tone moditior 5 isprorided *ith upwardly opening rece ses Between top rim ll and backplate 45 there are mounted a. plurality ol' helical springs 63, retainedin position by having their :opposite ends projecting in said ref-essesSi and 62, and serving a purpose similar to the springs 44.

The sound from the interior ot the instrument passes over the upper edgeof the rim ll (Fig. 4) through the upper lateral sound outlets formedbetween the tone ring and said upper edge and thence down- 'ardlyveilteriorly ot' the rim ll between said rim ll and the ring 3G, to theresonator redeetor 20 Ytor emission to the atmosphere. The spaee withinthe trarne constitutes a tone chamber communicating through theintermediate sound outlet lil with the resonator reflector 20. V

By upward or downward movement of the tone modilier the volume ot thischamber is reduced er increased. the tone ot the insti-unioni beingmodified accordingly as previously stated. and un instrument isqualified to meet the requirements as to tone ot a large or smallauditorium, the character ot music played, and for appropriately lillingthe part ot the instrument in orchestral work.

For the purposes ot description in this specification and claims, thepart of the instrument toward the diaphragm is Considered the upperpart.

will be moved to the lower Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. A sound instrument comprising a trame provided with lateral soundoutlets above the lower edge; and establishing tree communicationbetween the interior ol the instrument and the exterior atmosphere; adiaphragm tensioned over said trame; and a sound deilector securedaround said frame' below said outlets and having an upwardly extendedouter portion.

2. A sound instrument comprising a trame provided with lateral soundoutlets between the upper and lower edge/a; and establishing freeoomrnunifation between the interior of the instrument and the exterioratmosphere; a diaphragm tensioned over said frame; and a sound detleetorhaving a base secured around said trame as lov,v as the lower part oitsaid outlets and having an upwardly extended outer flange.

3. A sound instrument conunisinga trame provided with upper lateralsound outlets near the upper edge oit the traine and intermediate soundoutlets` about midway between the upper and lower edv' i; andcstablishing free communication btaveen the interior oie the instrumentand the exterior atmosphere; a diaphragm tensioni-zd over said trame;and a sound detleeor havingl a base secured around said traine at thelower part oi said intermediate outlets and havingan upwardly extendedouter 'flange extending to about to the top plane ot the instrument.

4. A sound instrument comprising a trame provided with upper lateralsound outlets near the upper edge ot the traine; and establishing treecommunication between the interior of the instrument and the exterioratmosphere; a diaphragm tensioned over said trame and terminating in atension ring spaced troni said outlets and cis tending below theoutlets; and a sound dctlector having a base secured around said 'fra-meand having an upwardlyv extended outer flange spaced trom and extendingabove the lower part ot said tension ring.

5. A sound instrument comprising a tame provided with upper lateralsound outlets near the upper edge ot the traine and intermediate soundoutlets about midway between the upper and lower edges; and establishingtree communication between the interior of the instrument and theexterior atmosphere; a diaphragm tensioned over said vtrame andterminating in a fiesh hoop; a tension ring on said hoop spaced tromsaid upper outlets and extending below said upper outlets; and a sounddetleotor having a base secured around said trame at the lower part ofsaid intermediate outlets and having an upwardly extended outer flangespaced from and extending above the lower part of said tension ring.

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6. A sound instrument comprising a frame; a`-diaphragm over said trame;a resonator; and means for adjusting the reso* nator adjustable todifferent operative positions toward and from the diaphragm and holdingit operatively steady in said positions.

7. A sound instrument Comprising a frame; a diaphragm over said trame; aresonator' within said frame; and means for adjusting` the resonatortoward and vfrom the diaphragm and holding it operativeljrv steady inthe different adjustedA positions.

8. A sound instrument comprising a trame provided with lateral soundoutlets above the flower edge; a diaphragm tensioned over said iframe;and a resonator' adjustable within said trame between the sound outletsand the lower edge.

9. A sound instrument Comprising a trame; a diaplu'agm over said trame;a resoinator at the lower part ot said trame adjustable to diii'ereutpositions toward and from said diaphragm; and means for steadying theedge of the resonator in said dii ferent positions.

10. A sound instrument comprising a vtrame provided with lateral soundoutlets; a diaphragm over said frame; an adjustable resonator at thelower part ot said traine; and springs pressing on the resonator :forsteadying the resonator.

ll. A sound instrument Comprising a iframe jinovided with intermediatesound outlets; a diaphragm over said frame; a resonator adjustablewithin said trame between the sound outlet and the lower edge; means loradjustably drawing the resonator toward the diaphragm; and springspressing on the resonator for moving it away :lirom said diaphragm andtor steadying the resonator.

l2. A sound instrument comprising a iframe provided with lateral soundoutlets; a diaphragm over said trame; and a reso` nator adjustablewithin said trame while remote trom said outlets.

i3. A sound instrument comprising a. trame provided with lateral soundoutlets; a diaphragm over said traine; a resonator at the lower part otsaid traine; and means .tor adjusting the resonator toward and .tromthe. diaphragm while the size ot the outlets remains constant.

li. A sound instrun'ient comprising a frame provided with lateral soundoutlets; a diaphragm over said trame; a sound deleotor secured aroundsaid 'trame as low the lower part olf said sound outlets and having anupwardly extending outer flange; and a resonator at the lower part otsaid' Ytrame adjustable independentlvv of said detleetor.

l5. A sound instrument comprising a frame provided with lateral soundoutlets;

a diaphragm over said trame; a ixed sound deleetor secured aroundsaidtrame at the lower part ot' said sound outlets and having an upwardlyextended outer portion; and a resonator adjustable at the lower part ofthe trame.

1G. A sound instrument comprising a trame provided with lateral soundoutlets between the upper and lower edges; a diaphragm over said trame;tensioning means tor said diaphragm; a sound deiieetor se- Cured aroundsaid trame at the lower part ot said setuid outlets and having anupwartlly extended outer portion; and a resonator adjustable within saidtrame independently ot the tensioning means.

i7. A sound instrument Comprising a frame provided with lateral soundoutlets between the upper and lower edges; a diaphragm over said trame;a sound detlector secured around said trame at the lower part ot saidsoumil outlets and having an upwardly extending outer portion; and aresonator adjustable within and independentljT oit said traine.

18. A sound instrument comprising a frame comprising upper and lowerspaced rims providing sound outlets therebetween; a diaphragm tensionedover said upper rim; and a sound deflector secured on the upper face oisaid lower rim and having an up-` wardly extended outer liange spacedtrom the upper rim.

19. A sound instrument comprising a iframe; a diaphragm over saidiframe; a tension ring tensioning said diaphragm; an annular membersecured exteriorly around said traine; and tension rods tensionedbetween said tension ring and member and passing between parts of saidmember.

Q0. A sound instrument Comprising a trame; a diaph agm over said trame;a tension ring tensioningl said diaphragm; an annular member securedaround said frame; tension hooks engaging said tension ring and havingthreaded lower yends extendingthrough said member; and nuts on saidlower ends.

21. A sound instrument comprising a trame providedk with intermediatelateral sound outlets; a diaphragm over said trame; a tension ring iorsaid diaphragm; a sound detleotor having a base secured around saidtrame at the lower part of said outlets and. having an upwardly extendedouter portion; tension hooks engaging said tension ring and havingthreaded lower ends extending through said base; and nuts on said lowerends.

22. In combination; a banjo trame eom prising upper and lower spacedrims and having a transverse member; downwardly disposed springs mountedon the inner part ot the fra-me; a. disk-shaped concave-convex memberhaving a thickened peripheral edge tif;

lili) 'engaging the inner face ot the lewe' rim,

of the frame, a sound delleetor hav a base portion mounted on the lowerrnn and an upturned outer Hangs: a diaphragm drawn over the upper rimand having a peripheral tension ring; hooks ten tween said base portionand ring; downwardl)v disposed springs mounted on the inner part ol" theiframe; a d i shaped meniber movable up and down in l lower 'im againstsaid springs: and an adjusting; stud having engagement with said iovnble.wlber and transverse member.

In Combination. a banjo prising upper and lower sperm rims` a sounddeftleetor having a base portion mounted on the lower riin and anupturned outer flange: a diaphragm drawn over the upper ring; and havinga peripheral tension ring; and liooizs tensioned between said baseportion and ring.

25. ln combination, a banjo frame e01nprising upper and lower spacedrims, a transverse member secured across the center oi the iframe: aplnralit \v ot' inwardljyv and downwardly pointing` 'fiat springssecured at their upper yends to the inner 'face of the uppe" ring;-provided with downwardly horizont: lv and upwardly curved lower ends; adiei shaped eoneavo-eonvex member having a thickened rieripheral edgeprovided with a eushion to engage the inner tace ol the lower rim andpressed upon b v said lower ends ot said springs. whereby said membermay be adjustably pressed inwardly: against the springs or outwardly bythe spring.; a diaphragm drawn over the upper rim: and an adjusting studhaving engagement with the eoneaVo-eonvex meniber and transverse member.

VILLIAM L. LANGE.

